Potato-planter.



O. W. FISHER.

POTATO PLANTER.

APPLICATION FILED 110110, 1906.

Patented Fb. 16, 1909.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J v V 3 1 a? a"). W. FISHER.

IOTATO PLANTBR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.10; 1906.

Patented Feb. 16, 1909.

TQQVQW W W wwweooeo 0. W. FISHERP POTATO PLANTER. APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 10, 1906.

@Wibmoaw 0. 'W. FISHER.

POTATO PLANTBR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 10, 1906.

Patented Feb. 16, 1909.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

fitter/Am;

-ISHER.

POTATO PLANTER. I

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 10, 1906.

, Patented" Feb. 16, 1909.

6 SHEETS-flHEET 6.

u l v mrm zvzzm Wane/5mg UNITED STATES- PATENT GFFICE.

oLIvn-R w. 'FIS'HEIt, 0F IERSEYFSEBRE, PENNSYLVANIA.

,POTA'I'O-PLANTEB.

Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented Feb. d8, 1909.

rim, 9.

improvements in mg .a furrow, depositing the desired amount the ho of ferti zer therein, dropping the otatoes accurately in the said furrow, an finally covering the otatoes.

A further 0 ject of the invention is to provide apotato planter, rotary means carrying a plurality of devices, adapted to carry the potatoes from a hopper to a discharge spout or tube, and capable -of automatically deliveringa potato to the discharge spout or chute from a receptacle, independent of the ho per, should any one of the potato carrying evices fail to convey a potato from per. to the discharge spoutor tube. .Furt ermore the invention has for its object to enable the furrowopening means and the means for covering the potatoes to be readily raised and lowered either for throwing them into and-out of operation, or. for :adjustmg the same. t is also the ob ect of the invention to en able the covermgldisks to be adjusted independently of ca other, and also to permit the sameto move upward independently of each other, should :either of them :come in contact witha stone, oriother obstruction.

With these other objects in View, the

' invention consists in the construction and novel combinationof parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended; it being understood-thatyariws .changes in the form,- proportion, size and :minor details of construction, within-the scopeof the claim's,-finay be resorted tomthout de'par'ting from the spirit or sacrificing an :of the advantages of the invention.

11 the drawings :-'-Figure 1 is-a side clove-- tion of a potato planter, cdnstructed in ae-. cordance with this invention.; Fig; 2 asasectional longitudinal view. F1g.13.1s a planview of i the main illustrating the -ar-. e t e b blades e seed covering disks. view thehopper. Fig. 51s an enlarged pers ectr view of the rear portion of the mac e, tcarrying wheels and the seat being remove .1 Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional 6+6 of Fig. 2. is a sectional view view, taken substalii nlly on the line tisaplan taken substantiallyp'nthe linefl Tof' ,Fig. 8 is. a detail sectional view, illustrating the construction of the potato clamping devices. F' 9 is adetail sectional view taken substantia ly on the line 9-9 of Fig. 6.

Like numerals of reference designate connesponding parts in all the figures of the drawmgs.

The main or sup .orting frame of the machine, which may e of any preferred construction, is preferably provided with opposite side bars 1 having spaced parallel portions, and provided at the front of the frame with forwardly converging portions 2, :the front terminals 3 of the side bais 1 are spaced apart, and are secured to the o posite side faces of 'the rear end of a draiit beam or tongue 4. The side bars are provided at bearings 7 preferably consist of laterally projecting tubular portions, extending from the outer faces of the bearing brackets, .as clearly illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The axle 8 is provided at its-ends with suitable spindle portions for the receptionof-carrying wheels 9 and 10. The side bars of the main frame are connected by the axle 8, and also by a-transverse rod 11, located above and shghtly in .rear of the axle and piercing I; the side bars and the upper rear portions .0

the bearing brackets 5, and assisting in securing the said brackets to the side bars.

- The furrow, intowhich the potatoes are drop ed, is opened 'by a shovel or blade .12, which tapers downwardly .and which .is curved horizontally to present a convex front face and a concave rear face, and .the furrow opening bladeor shovel 12 is secured to a similarly. shaped shank '13, which is Imounted-between a air of longitudinal supporting :bars 14. he tapering shank .13, whichls curved ,in horizontal section, 1s prowith a curved cutter or colter 15, hav- Ang afo'rked upper portion and extending downwardly therefrom to thelower portion of the furrow opening blade. Thecurved cutter or colter, which is bowed forwardly, is adapted to divide the soil offtlre furrow so that the shovel or blade 12 will throw as much soil on one side as on the other. The

lower end of the cutter or colter is secured by a clip 17, or other suitable fastening device to the lower portion of the furrow opening blade or shovel. cated portion 16, whic is formed integral with, or otherwise rigidly connected to the shank 13, isalso connected'to the supporting side bars14 by a transverse pin or bolt 18, a sleeve 19 being preferably arranged on-the pin or bolt to stiffen the structure. I The olt or pin 18 constitutes a pivot for the furrow opening device, which is held normally of front and rear brackets 23 and 24, and the latter are bolted or otherwise'secured to the rigid with the supporting bars 14 by a break-.

able pin 20, constructed of wood, or any other suitable material, and arranged in suitable perforations of the shank l3 and the without being broken, or otherwise injured by the same.

- The support-in'gbars 14, which have downwardly curved rear portions, are hung from front and rear transverse rock shafts 21' and 22, which are journaled in suitable bearings front and rear portions of the side bars 1 of the main or 'supportingframe. The front ends of the supporting bars 14 are spaced apart, and are connected with a pair of arms 25' of the front transverse shaft 21 by means v of depending links 26. The arms 25, which extend forwardly from the transverse-shaft;

21, are rovided at their rear ends with rectangu ar sleeves 27, conforming to the "-by set screws 28. ,The. links 26' are adjust- '50 configuration of the body portion of the shaft 21, and adj ustably S6C11 I.Ed to the same ably secured to the front ends of the supporting bars 14 by means of a transverse olt 29, and their lower portions are provided at intervals with perforation '30 to receive the bolt 29 to permit the front ends of the supporting bars to be raised and lowered independently of the arms of the rock shafts. The rear portions 31 of the support"- ing bars are converged, and their termi'nals 32 are secured together and to the lower ends of a pair of links 33, which connect the rear ends of the supporting bars 14 with an arm 34 of the rear transverserock'shaft 22. The arm 34, which extends forwardly from the rearrock shaft 22,- is provided with a rectangular sleeve to'receive the "body portion of The u per forked or bifur thesaid shaft 22, and it is 'secui edto the same by a set screw 35. The links 33, which are spaced apart to receive "thearm 3.4 of the rear ends 32 of the supporting bars 14, are provided at their lower ends with perforations 36 for a bolt 37, or other suitable fastening device for ivoting the rear ends of the bars 14 to the lin s. The rear ends 3-2of the bars 14 are also rovi'ded with perforations, and are adjustablyconnectedwith the links.- The perforations of 'theilinks permit the rear ends of the sup orting {bars 14 to be raised and lowered in ependently of the rear rockv shaft, and the perforationslof the rear ends of the bars 14 ermit the lower ends of the links to be ad ustedbackwardly and forwardlyr V i I The front and'rear transverse rock shafts are lprovided at the right hand-side of. the

mac

and 39, which are connected by a rod or bar 40,. whereby the rock shafts are causedto rock in unison when they are operated for raising and lowering the supporting bars 14 evice out of the" to lift the furrow opening ground and to force it into the same;

1 When the furrow opening device is subjected to rearward pressure, incident to the forward movement of the machine, the links 26 and 33 and the supporting bars 14,.whichf carry the furrow opening device, are pre vented from swinging rearwardly by means ine with upwardly extending arms 38 of a pair of inclined front braces 41, pivoted at t eir front ends 42 to the draft bar or beam, and connected at their rear ends with the lower ends of the links 26 and with thef front ends-of the supporting bars 1 4,,by the transverse bolt 29. The connecting' jbraces or links 41 do not interfere with the upward.

and downward movement. of the bars 14.

means of an operating lever 43', suitably fixed to the reartransverse shaft 22 and provided with a spring actuated dog or detent 44 for engaging an arciiate ratchet bar 45. The

ratchet bar or member, vhichmay be of any desire d construction, is provided w ith an arouate series of teeth, and it is preferably secured to the side bar 1 at theright hand side of the supporting frame; The. operating le-, v'er provided adjacent to its grip or handle.

portion with a latch lever for actuating thespring actuated dog or detent 44. The op.-

eratinglever 43 is also adapted for raising and lowering a pair of seed covering disks 46, which are raised and lowered simultaneously with the furrowopening device. The seed covering disks, which are set at an angle, as clearly. illustrated in Figs. 3' and Spf u1e dra'uings, are mounted on inclined" reare wardly diverging bars or members 47, "w'hich have parallel? front attachment portions or shanks 48 which are-pivoted at their' front ends by rivets 49, or other suitable fastening devic'es to oscillatory arms 50. The shanks 105 The furrow opening device is adjusted by r .7 lower ends of the chains are engaged with 5, devices 52. The bolts 52,which also.

pierce the rear ends of the arms 50, ass

through clamping plates 53, provide at their inner faces with corrugations or teeth for engaging cor-responding corrugations or teeth 54 of the enlarged or'tions of the shanks 48. The bolts an the clamping ,jflatessecure the bars or members .47 in. their adjustment, and enable the covering disks 46 ,to be adjusted independently of the operating mechanism for raising and lowering the disks and the furrow opening device. The corrugations or teeth of the enlarged portions of the shanks are located at opposite sides of the arcuate slots.

The arms 50, which are arranged at an inclination, extend downwardly and. rearwardly from the transverse rod 11,.and they are provided at their upper or front ends v with integral collars or eyes 55, which are seable means to sleeves 57, arranged on the rod 11 and extending from the same to the median line of the machine, and adapted to brace the main frame at the rear portion thereof and prevent any inward movement of y the side bars. The sleeves are adapted torotate on the rod 11, and they are capable of independent rotation to permit either of the seed covering disks to move upward independentlyof the other, whereby the-disks are prevented from being broken or otherwise injured by stones and other obstructions. Also the independent adjustment of the seed covering disks enables one of the disks to be arranged at a slightly different elevation from the other, which is advantageous in planting potatoes, where the ground is hilly.

The covering disks are connected with the rear transverse rock shaft by means of chains 58, or other suitable flexible connections, the

hooks 59, which extend upwardly from the 3 arms 50 at points between the ends thereof, and the upper ends ofthe chains are detach ably interlocked with toothed sector-shaped The sector-shaped arms are provided with rectangular sleeves 61, whicharesecured by set screws, or other. suitable fastening I the ,vices, to the rear transverse shaft, an

outer portions of the arms areprovided with.

arc'uate edges, having projecting'teeth 62, spaced apart and corresponding to the openings of the links of the chains. The upper links of the chains are; detachably interlocked with the arcuate edges of the arms .60,

- and as. any of the links may be interlocked with the sector-shapedgarms, the seed cover ing disks may be adjusted independently'of each otherthroughthemedinmof cured by clamping screws, 56, or other suitop e'r.

construction provides a quick adiustment, as the upper ortion of either 0 the chains may be quic y' detached from and engaged with the arms 60 of the rear rock shaft. 'When the rock shaft is rotated by the operating lever, the arms 60 arev swung upward and downward, and the seedcovering disks are correspondingly raised and lowered.

The seed covering disks are yieldabl'y held in tlre ground by means of coiled springs; 63, connected at their front ends to plates 64, which are bolted, or otherwise secured to the inner faces of the side bars 1 of the main or. supporting frame. The rear ends of the spripgs-aresecu-red. to lugs 65, which depend from the arms 50 at points between the ends thereof-L The springs swing the arms 50 downwardly, and at the same time permit I the said arms 50 to be swung upwardly By the operating mechanism for raising and lowering the seed covering disks and the furrow o ening device.

' Suitab y mounted on the supporting frame is a hopper 66, which ma be of airy referred construction, and whic is divided 5 a transverse partition 67 into a front fort' iz er compartment 68 and a rear potato conifpgrtment 69. The front fertilizer compartment-68 is rovided with oppositely inclined lower wa s 70, and it has a central pocket 71 of semi-cylindrical form. A feed wheel 72 operates in the; narrow pocket or recess 71 at the bottom of the front'fertiliz'er com artment 68 and is adapted to posi 'tive y feed the fertilizer to a, bottom dis? charge opening 73. The feed:- wheel-.72 is provided with o positeperipheral recesses, formed by zigzag arranged peripheralpostions, as clearly stratedin Fig. 40f the drawings.

is discharged through? the opening 73. s in rear of the furrow opening device, andl ffis into the furrow opened thereby. The

charge of the fertilizer" is controlled by ai I connected at its front end with a lever 76. arms 60 of the rear transverse rock shaft.

The lever 76 is'fulcrumed at. an intermediate point, being pivoted by a bolt -77 to a pro- 'ecting portion of an L-shaped plate or bracket 78. The plate or bracket 78 is' secured to the front wall of the hopper66', and

The feed wheel is mounted on a' transverse shaft 7 4, and thefertilizer, which the lowenarm of the lever 76 extends into a slot of the front end of the slide75. The upper portion of the; lever is arranged in aguide slot 79 of a lon 'tudinal bar 80, mounted upon the top of t e hopper, and extending along the median line of the machine, and

rojecting in advance and in rear of the said A seat 81 for the accommodation of t e driver is connected with the -rear projectmg end of the longitudinal top banSU. by

. vided with upwardly projecting guards 101.,1.

Theopening movement of the slide 7 5 may be controlicd by anadjustable stop, consist mg of a bolt 86 and upper and lower plates 87. The bolt 86 passes through the guide 5' slot 79 at the rear portion thereof, and the plates 87 are arranged at the upper. and lower aces of the bar "80, and'extend across the slot 79. The stop is arranged in the path'of the upper arm of the lever 76, and limits the 0 rearward movement of the said upper arm.

The shaft 74, which extends beyond each side of the hopper, is provided at its left hand end with a pinion 88, which is connected by a sprocket chain 89 with a driving sprocket wheel 90, mounted on the .axle at the left hand side of the machine, and provided with a clutch face or member 91, adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with a clutch face or member .92 of the adjacent carrying wheel 9. p The clutch as operated by a shifting lever 93, extending longitudinally of the machine and located between the hopever, which is fulcrumed at, its front end on a bracket or support 94 at a' point in advance of the axle, is. provided at an intermediate 1 point with a depending fork 95, which"engages-an annular groove 96 of a hub extension'ofthe sprocket wheel 90. The shifting lever, whic-hextends in rear of the axle, has an upturned rear end 97, adapted to be enaged by the foot of the o erator. The bracket 94 is secured to the eft hand side bar 1 of the main frame, and the rear portion 5 of the shifting lever 1s arranged wlthin a kee er 98, secured to the left hand side bar 1 of tlie main frame and having a laterally ro j ecting substantially L-shaped portion, w ich overhangs the shifting lever and which limits 0 the outward movement of the lever. The upturned rear endof the shifting lever projects above the contiguous side bar of the main frame, and the shifting lever is adapted to be moved in'ei'ther direction by the foot of 5 the driver. T he machine is provided at the rear walls of the hopperwith a transverse bar 99, extending laterally from each side of the hopper and adapted to receive the feet of the operator. The projecting foot rest portions 100 of'the transverse bar 99 are pro consisting of curved plates secured to the iower face or edge of the transverse bar 99, and extending upward above the upper face .Of the same. The ends of the bar 99 are bev:

' erand the sprocket wheel 90. The shifting ehd, or roundedto conform to the configuration of the guards 101. I

The front transverse shaft 74 is provided at the righthand sidmsf the'machine with a sprocket pinion 102, which is connected by a" sprocket chain 103 with a sprocket wheel 104,1mo'unted on a short'transversely disposed rear shaft 105 and communicating mot on to the mechanism for de ositing the potatocs in thefurrowfi The s ort transverse shaft 105, which" extends from one side of themachi'ne to the central portion thereof, is

journaled in suitable bearings of a bracket 106, constructed of cast metal, or other suitable'material, 1 and composed of a transverse portion and side portions, which are secured to the rearward extensions of the lower portions of the sides of the hopper. The transverse portion of the bearing bracket or frame 106 is provided at the right hand side of the machine with'rearwardly extending bearing arms for supporting the shaft 105, and it has a central bearing '107 for the reception of an" 108. The front end of the inclinedlongitudinal shaft 108 is journaled in a suitable bearing 111 of a plate or bracket, which is secured to the rear wall of the rear compartment 69, exteriorly of the latter. The rear compartment 69 is provided with an inclined bottom or'chute 112 of substantially semicylindrical'form, adapted to direct the potatoes to a rotary carrier. 1 The rear wall is pro-' vided at the bottom of the hopper with an outlet opening 113, and the inclined bottom or chute is provided with a rear extension 114,

which projects in rear of the outlet opening.

The rear end of the inclined semi-cylindrical bottom 112 is located at the lower portion of and is adapted to deliver the potatoes to the potato carrier, set at an inclination and consisting of ahollow cylindrical receptacle and comprising a spider 115 and a rim 116. The

spider is suitably fixed to the shaft 108, and i arranged I within the bearing frame or bracket, and the outer ends of the arms of the spider are bolte'd or otherwise secured to the rim 116. The rim 116,. -which rotates around a fixed disk or plate 117, is provided at intervals with potato carrying cups or flanges 118.", The disk or circular plate 117 is connected with the rear wall of the hopper by a longitudinally disposed wall or partition 119, which extends upward'from a bottom wallor partition 120. The walls or partitions 119 and 120, which are arranged at-the righthand side of the machine, form a compart-ment 1:21, which extends in advance of the rotary potato carrier and which is intersected by a portion of the same. The disk or plate 1 1 7 is prnrvided oppositeathe-romparts 'anoutletopening-122, through ment 121 wit which the potatoesare dischar edzby means of a yieldably mounted defle 001'.- .123. A substantially L shaped delivery spout 124,

, which ishung from the .bearmg frame or tion ofthe carrier. The-flanges 118,"w ich' pass through the potatoes at the lower. end of the inclined bottom. or chute, are each of a size to carry one otato or ortion upward. The flanges'llS w positive y carry a potato or portion upward until they are inverted or inclined downwardly by the rotary movement of the carrier. Prior to reaching such a position, the potatoes are automatically engaged and clamped on the flanges by pivoted devices, consisting of levers 125, provided at an int rmediate'point with PI'OJGGting ears 126, spaced apart to receive an actuating spring 127 and pivoted betweenpairs of ears 128 of the rotary rim 116. One arm of each of the levers is curved and terminates in a bifurcated portion or 'claw129, which isadapted to extend through a slot or opening 130 of the rotary rim, and which engages and embeds itself in the potato 131, whereby the potato is positively held on the flange 1 18 until it is released by the means hereinafter described. The sides of the bifurcated portion or claw are pointed to enable them to readily penetrate a potato. The inner end wall 132 of the slot 130 is arranged to formastop for limiting the inward In'ovement of the potato engaging arm of the lever, as illustratedin dotted lines in Fig. 8 of the drawings, wherev by the points of the lever 125 are prevented from coming in contact with theflanges 118 and becoming dulled by such contact. Should the flanges 118 through any cause fail to carry apotato upward. or retain it in positionuntil engaged by the lever 125,. the

otato engaging; arm will; be swunggto the limit ofits inward movement'by the spring 127 and will engage the .said end wall..l32. The spring 127 consists'ofztwosides:and:a connecting coil"; the coil is? arranged on the pivot 133 of the lever, and the sides 'of the spring engage the rotary rim and the outer arm of the potato engaging lever. The spring is adapted to throw the potato engaging arm inward, when the lever is free to move, and the outer arm of the lever 125,

during a portion of the rotary movement of the rim,is engaged by a curved mm or member'134, arranged beneath and spacedfromthe lower portion of the rotary rimand suit tendency of ably 'securedi tow-the' rearwardly portions-.01 the: 1 side wallsiof the happen the top'and bottom of the carrier, so that the outer or rear arms. of the potato engaging levers will bereleased as the flanges 118 rise from a horizontal position. The levers 125 will engage the potato before there is any The potatoes are released by the left'hand terminal of the curved cam or member. 134;

which engages the rear or outer arm of. each lever and moves the inner; or engaging-arm outward, thereby ermitting the potato to drop, when it reac es the left hand side .of the machine, and is at a point above the outlet 122. The potato is directed through the outlet by the deflector 123, which is slightly the same to fall off the flanges curved and which is hinged at its upper edge 135 to the bottom of an inclined c ute 136; The deflector, which extends downwardly andrearwardly, is adapted to cause thepoe tatoes to pass through the outlet 122, and it is engaged by a spring 137, which bears against the lower face of the deflector; The spring is suitably mounted on the chute 5136 at the lower end thereof, and it permits. the deflector to swing backward to' allow the flanges-118w pass it;

When the engaging portion of the lever 125 is at the limit of its inward movement, which will 0COI11,Sl1011ld there be-no otatoon the flanges 118, when the lever is re eased by the curved cam or member 134-, the outer armofthe lever 125 will then extend beyond the position occupied by it, when the .inner arm'is in engagement with a potato, andthe saidouter. arm is. adapted, when in its-extended osition,.to trip a pivotedreceptacle 13-8'for dropping a potato into the chute 136, whereby a positive-and eflective drop ing .of the potatoes is assured. The receptac e 138, which is-substantially oblong, is open at the inner .or front end and. at the top, and it is suitably hingedor pivoted at its bottom at 139. The hinged connection between the receptacle and the chute 1'36 is-locatedat a point between the front and rear ends of. the receptacle, and the outer or rear end, which is "arranged in the path of an; extended outer. arm of-..the levers 125, is; adapted .to'pbe thrown upward by the same. A potato is placed in' the pivoted receptacle 138 by the river, and should any one of the levers miss apotato, thereceptacle will be tilted, so that the potato will be deposited to supply the place of the one missing fromthe rotary carrier; In. practice, the driver or operator will carry two or three potatoes or portions in his pocket, so that the pivoted receptacle may be instantly supplied as soon as it is emptied. The outer or rear portion .ofthe The attachment late or ortion is secured to the extension 0 the le t hand side of the hopper, and the arm-extends transversely of the machine and is arranged beneath the bottom of the tiltable receptacle.

. Should the potatoes clog at the opening 113 of the rear wall of the hop er, they may be agitated by a lever 141, in crumed at an intermediate oint on the innerface of the rear wall of tlie hopper and extending from the bottom to the top thereof, and rovided' with a handle portion arranged wit in easy reach of the (lIlVGIOI operator.- The lower portion of the lever is centrally arranged and the upper portion is bent laterally, as clearly shown in l ig. 4 of the drawings, toclear'the rear portion of the longitudinal top beam.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

.1. The combination of a hopper provided at the bottom with an outlet and having a rearward extension, a rotary potato carrier operating at the rear end of the extension, and a movable potato deflector arranged in the path of the potato carrier.

2. The combination of a hopper provided ,with a substantially semi-cylindrical bottom extending beyond the rear wall of the hopper, a rotary potato carrier set at an inclination, and a yieldably mounted deflector arranged in the path of the potato carrier.

3. The combination of a hopper, a potato carrier, a delivery spout or chute located in rear of the carrier, and a movably mounted deflector yieldably arranged in the ath of the carrier for directing the potatoes 1nto th delivery spout-or chute.

4. The combination of a hopper, a rotary potato carrier setat an inclination, an inclined delivery spout located in rear of the rotary potato carrier, and a movably mounted deflector, yieldably held in the path of the potato carrier for directing the potatoes into the delivery spout.

5. The combination of a hopper, a delivery spout or chute located in rear of the hopper, a rotary potato carrier interposed between the hopper and the delivery spout, and an inclineddeflector yieldably held in the path of the rotary carrier for directing the potatoes into the delivery spout.

6. The combination of a hopper a delivery spout or chute located in rear 0 the hopper, a rotary potato carrier interposed between the-hopper and the delivery spout, an inclined deflector hinged at the top, and a spring for fyieldably holding the deflector in t e path 0 the rotary carrier. I

7. The combination of a hopper, a delivery spout located in rear of the hopper, a rotary potato carrier interposed between the hopper and the delivery spout and consisting of a rotary rim having potato carrying means, a disk or plate arranged at the back of the potato carrier and provided with an outlet communicating with the delivery spout, and a deflector located within the said rim for directing the potatoes through the opening of the disk or plate;

8. The combination of a hopper having an inclined bottom extending in rear of the hop-- per, said hopper being also provided above the projecting portion of the bottom with a compartment, a rotary potato carrier set at an inclination and arranged in rear of the compartment and the said extensionof the bottom, a delivery spout located in rear of the potato carrier, and a deflector mounted within the said compartment and extending into the path of the potato carrier for directing the potatoes into the delivery spout.

- 9. .The combination with a hopper, of a rotary potato carrier consisting of a rotary rim..

provided with projectin potato carrying portions, spring actuated potato engaging devices mounted on the rim, and means located in the path of the said devices for holding the same in a retracted position during'a portion of the rotary movement of the carrier and for releasing the devices to permit the same to engage the potatoes. din-ing another portion of such rotary movement.

10. The combination with a hopper, of a rotary potato carrier consisting of a rim provided with inwardly projecting potato carrying portions, exteriorly arranged spring actuated potato engaging devices, and means located in the path of the said devices for holding the same out of engagement with the potatoes during a portion of the rotary movement of the carrier and for releasing the said devices to permit them to engage the said potatoes during another portion of such rotary movement and for also reengaging-the said devices to release the potatoes.

11. The combination with a hopper, of a rotary potato carrier consisting of a rim provided with inwardly rojecting potato carrying portions, exterior .y arranged spring actuated potato engaging devices, and a curved cam or member arranged in the path of the said devices for holding the same out of engagement with the potatoes and for releasing the devices to permit them to engage the potatoes.

12.- The combination with a hopper, of a rotarypotato carrier comprising a rim having inwardly, projecting potato carrying flanges, spring actuated levers mounted on the. rim and. arranged men age the potatoes and provided with outward y projecting portions, and a curved member arranged in the path of the on wa'rdly projecting. portions of p the levers for holding the same out of engagement 'spith the potatoes during a portion of the rotary movement of the carrier.

13. The combination of a rotary rim having an inwardly projecting potato carrying flange, a potato engaginglever fulcrumed at an intermediate point and having an inner v potato engaging arm, and means located in the path of the lever for engaging the other arm to hold the lever out of engagement v ith the potato during a portion of the rotary movementof the rim.

' v 14. The combination of a rotary rim having an inwardly'projecting flange and pro vided with a slot, an exteriorly arranged lever mounted on the rim and provided with a potato engaging arm arranged to extend through the slot and having its inward movement limited by oneof the walls of the slot to prevent it from coming in contact with the potato carrying fiange, and means located in the path of the lever for disengaging the same from a potato and for holding it out of-such engagement during a portion of the rotary movement of the rim.

15. The combination of a rotary rim having interior potato carrying means, a spring actuated lever fulcrumed at an intermediate point on the exterior of the rim and provided at one of its arms with a potato engaging claw, said rim bein provided with means for limiting the inward movement of the claw,

and means for moving the lever out of engagement with a potato to release the same.

16. The combination of a hopper, a delivery spout, a' rotary carrier having spring actuated potato engaging devices movable inwardly and outwardly, the outward movernent being limited by the potatoes, means for operating the said devices to releasethe potatoes, and means for holding a potato,

said means being located in the path of thesaid devices when the same are at the limit engaging means for conveying potatoes from of their outward movement and adapted to be operated 'todeliver a potato to the said spout; r 1 V 17. The combination of a hopper, a delivery spout, apotato-carrier having potato the hopper to the spout, and a tiltable potato receptacle, saidpot ato engaging means being adapted to tilt the receptacle to deliver a potato to the spout should any one of the potato engaging means fail to obtain a potato at the hopper.

18. Thecombina tion of a hopper, a potato carrier provided with otato engaging means movable in vardly an outwardly and having their outward movement limited by the potatoes, and a tiltable receptacle arranged in the path of the potato engaging means "when the same are.

7 limited, by theat. the limit of. their movement.

19. The combination of a potato carrier provided with spring actuated potato engaging levers movable inwardly and outwardly and having their outward movement limited by the potatoes, and a tiltable receptaclearranged in the path of the levers when the same are at the. limit of their outward movement. v

20. The combination of a hopper, a delivery spout, a chute communicating with the spout, a tiltable receptacle arranged, to discharge into the chute, and a potato carrier having movable potato engaging means,the outward movement of the said meansbe' potatoes and the receptacle being arranged in the path of the potato engaging means when the same are at the limit of their outward movement.

21.. The combination of a hopper, a delivery spout, a chute communicating with the spout, a tiltable receptacle arranged to empty into the chute,- a potato carrier having means for engaging the potatoes to carry the same from the hopper to the spout, and means for tilting-the receptacle to deliver a potato to the spout should any one of ,the

tail to obtain a poat the limit of their outward movement, to

engage the receptacle to tilt the same.

23.. The-combination of a hopper, a delivery spout, a chute communicating with the spout, a tiltable receptacle mounted on the spout for discharging a potato into the,

same, a rotary carrier having movable tato engaging means and arranged .to tilt the receptacle when at the limit of their movc.

ment, and a deflector located at theqbottom. .of the chute for directingthe potatoes -.-int o the delivery spout.

24. The combination of hop r a trans,-

versely disposed bearing frame or bracket secured to the hopper at opposite of and extending rearwardly therefrom, 8.

sides there 1 longitudinalshait journaled in suitable bear mgs of the hopper and the said frame or bracket, a delivery spout hung'from the bearing frame or bracket, a rotary carrier mounted on the. shaft and provided with means for conveying the potatoes from the hopper to the spout, and gearing for. operav 'ating the shaft. E

25. The combination of a wheeled frame, a

hopper mounted on the frame and having fertilizer and seed compartments, fertilizer feed ng-means, potato dropping mechanlsm, gearing for communicating motion from a 'wheel of a frame to the potato dropping mechanism and to the fertilizer feeding means, said gearing having a clutch, a lever located exteriorly of the frame and extend-, mg along one side of the so me and connected with the clutch, said leverbeing provided witha foot engaged portion, and a keeper extending laterally from the frame and overhanging the lever. I

26. The combination of a hopper, atra'nsversely disposed bearing frame or bracket rotary potato carrier mounted on the shaft and having exteriorly arranged potato engagin levers, and a curved member sup. ported by the frame or bracket and arranged in the path of the levers.

27. The combination with a hopper, and a delivery spout or chute, of means for carry. ing seed from the hopper to the spout or chute, and yieldable means arranged in the path of the said means for deflecting the seed to the delivery spout or chute, said yieldable means being adapted to be moved'out ofthev path of the potato carrying means by the latter.

28. The combination with a hopper, and a delivery spout or chute, of a potato carrier provided at intervals with potato carrying means, and movable means arranged in the path of the potato carrier for deflect-ingQthe potatoes to the delivery spout or chute, said. movable means being adapted to be moved out of the path of the potato carrier by the latter.. g I I 29. A dropping device for potatoes and the like consisting of a hollow; revolving receptacle having one or more pointed potatoengaging devices mounted exteriorly on the receptacle and arranged to penetrate the interior thereof, means for forcing the potatoengaging device into the receptacle at. a point in its revolution, means for withdrawing it at another point, and means for conducting the released potatoes exteriorly of the receptacle. v

30. The combination of a hollow revolving receptacle provided with inwardly projecting flanges or lugs, potato-engaging devices pivotally mounted exteriorly on the receptacle,

' means for forcing each potato-engaging device into the receptacle at one point in its revolution, and means for withdrawing each potato-engaging device at another point.

31. The combination with a hopper, of a hollow revolving receptacle communicating therewith, potato-engaging devices pivotally mounted exteriorly on the receptacle,

"springs for forcing said potato-engaging devices into the receptacle, and means located at a particular point in the revolution of. the receptacle for withdrawing the potato-engaging devices.

the like consisting of ahollow revolving receptacle having one or more potato-engaging devices mounted exteriorly on the receptacle and arranged to penetrate the interior thereof, and means located in the pathof the said devices for holding the same in aretracted position during a rotary movementof the carrier and forreleasing the-devices to permit the same to engage the potatoes during another portion oi such revolution.

' 33. A dropping device for potatoes and the like consisting of a hollow revolving receptacle having one or more potato-engaging devices mounted exteriorlyon the receptacle and arranged to penetrate the interior thereof, and a curve cam or member arranged in the path of the said devices for holding the same out of engagement with the potatoes and for releasing the devices to permit the.

same to clamp the otatoes. v a

34. A dropping evice for potatoes and the like consisting of a hollow revolving re- 32. A dropping device for potatoes and cept'acle, one or more potato-engaging devices consisting of levers pivotally mounted exteriorly of the receptacle and arranged to penetrate into the interior thereof, and a curved cam arranged in the path of the levers for holding the same out of enga ement with the potatoes duringa portion of the rotary movement of the, receptacle and forreleasing the levers to permit the same to engage the potatoes.

35. A dropping device for potatoes and the like consisting of a hollow revolving receptacle, one or more potato-engaging devices consisting of levers pivotally mounted exteriorly of the receptacle and arranged to penetrate into the interior thereof, springs for forcing the levers into the receptacle, and a cam or member arranged in the path of the lever for holding the same out of engagement with the potatoes during a portion of the rotary movement of the, carrier for releasing the levers to permit them to engage the potatoes.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

OLIVER W. FISHER.

, Witnesses: J

' W'M.-R-'. PEoPLEs, J. CLYDE BROWN. 

